Why use premium gas? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

avro206 · 01-03-2010, 07:41 PM

Let me first say---I'd use it, no question.

My friend who has a Camaro SS refuses to fill it with premium. He doesn't think it needs it and won't pay out of principal.

His idle has a slight fluctuation I have noticed.

Give me some concrete reasons why he should.

coolman · 01-03-2010, 07:45 PM

He is also killing this hp #'s by doing this. It really slows them down to run anything other than premium. If it was a v-6 then it wouldn't matter.

avro206 · 01-03-2010, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolman

He is also killing this hp #'s by doing this. It really slows them down to run anything other than premium. If it was a v-6 then it wouldn't matter.

says he doesn't care about the 5hp he's missing.

I think GM doesn't randomly specify premium fuel engines. Big turn off to alot of people and sometimes even a deal breaker.

coolman · 01-03-2010, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avro206

says he doesn't care about the 5hp he's missing.

I think GM doesn't randomly specify premium fuel engines. Big turn off to alot of people and sometimes even a deal breaker.

Go through the threads on here and you will find that it's a lot more than 5hp lost over it. It does state to run premium in the SS or performance will be reduced.

BLACK10 · 01-03-2010, 08:07 PM

the price of a tank of premium is only about $3 more than a tank of regular. there's more ways to save a couple dollars than making your engine have valve clatter and detonation

1camaro70 · 01-03-2010, 08:14 PM

If you go back to multiple threads, and dyno runs the low octane table loses you about 20 HP and 25 torque, just look at low dyno's verses heathy engines. At least with L99.

BLACK10 · 01-03-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1camaro70

If you go back to multiple threads, and dyno runs the low octane table loses you about 20 HP and 25 torque, just look at low dyno's verses heathy engines. At least with L99.

yeah, thats how the whole fuse-pull thing got started

SC2150 · 01-03-2010, 08:19 PM

The knock sensors are quick enough to pull timing to avoid damage, but the reduced fuel economy that will result negates any savings from useing a lower octane.

The power loss could be 20-25hp or more depending on how close the factory tune is.

These cars have a 11:1 compression ratio....premium is a must!

Bottom line is, why? We have a customer that spent the $$ for a new Z06...and he won't pay the extra for premium. Crazy!

franknbeans · 01-03-2010, 08:29 PM

For us that have been here for a while we know that issue of filling up a L99 with low octane fuel. . . There's been many topics on this.

My 2003 SRT-4 actually pulled the boost and retarded the timing if you didn't use High test fuel.

BLACK10 · 01-03-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC2150

The knock sensors are quick enough to pull timing to avoid damage,

sorry , i was thinking of a car with a tune thats not pulling timing

SC2150 · 01-03-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLACK10

sorry , i was thinking of a car with a tune thats not pulling timing

Good point. A tuned car will still pull timing unless the knok detor settings are disabled or turned way down...and the only time we disable them is when doing a bracket tune for the drag racers that want to run the same# run after run. So you should still be safe even with a tune as long as the tuner is good. But we do see some tunes come in from a well known "traveling tuner" that disables it to cover for some tuning weaknesses he has...and have seen the melted pistons as a result.

rodimus prime · 01-03-2010, 09:37 PM

Im going to run 87 all winter. It doesnt hurt anything. Your car will just switch to the low octane table. But expect it to be slower. No damage will occur, thats just stupid.

RJT-Maro · 01-03-2010, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avro206

Let me first say---I'd use it, no question.

My friend who has a Camaro SS refuses to fill it with premium. He doesn't think it needs it and won't pay out of principal.

His idle has a slight fluctuation I have noticed.

Give me some concrete reasons why he should.

If his car has a manual transmission then It will do this..

It's the lope from the big engine it has lol..

Mine does it, and it tickles me to see the needle moving up and down at a stop light lol

slicker · 01-03-2010, 10:47 PM

ok then if it make that much diffrence in the SS. then why no difrence in the LT with a 6 under the hood. the manual says regular but i use mid grade from chevron so should i be useing regular or should i use premium

01-03-2010, 07:41 PM	#1
avro206 Drives: 89 Formula 350 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary AB Canada Posts: 53	Why use premium gas? Let me first say---I'd use it, no question. My friend who has a Camaro SS refuses to fill it with premium. He doesn't think it needs it and won't pay out of principal. His idle has a slight fluctuation I have noticed. Give me some concrete reasons why he should. __________________ 89 Formula 350 with alot of mods

01-03-2010, 08:29 PM	#9
franknbeans Whipped Drives: 2010 CAMARO Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pittsburgh-ish - PA Posts: 4,216 View My Garage	For us that have been here for a while we know that issue of filling up a L99 with low octane fuel. . . There's been many topics on this. My 2003 SRT-4 actually pulled the boost and retarded the timing if you didn't use High test fuel. __________________ Car of the week 7/7/14

01-03-2010, 10:47 PM	#14
slicker slicker Drives: Cyber Grey 1 LT / RS Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 535 View My Garage	ok then if it make that much diffrence in the SS. then why no difrence in the LT with a 6 under the hood. the manual says regular but i use mid grade from chevron so should i be useing regular or should i use premium __________________ UFC as real as it gets

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01-03-2010, 07:45 PM	#2
coolman Guest Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: PA Posts: 4,812	He is also killing this hp #'s by doing this. It really slows them down to run anything other than premium. If it was a v-6 then it wouldn't matter.

01-03-2010, 08:07 PM	#5
BLACK10 Drives: 2010 CAMARO. 10.04@133mph, 1.4 60' Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 4,585	the price of a tank of premium is only about $3 more than a tank of regular. there's more ways to save a couple dollars than making your engine have valve clatter and detonation

01-03-2010, 08:14 PM	#6
1camaro70 Drives: 2010 2SS RS L99 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: BUTLER, PA Posts: 531	If you go back to multiple threads, and dyno runs the low octane table loses you about 20 HP and 25 torque, just look at low dyno's verses heathy engines. At least with L99.

01-03-2010, 08:19 PM	#8
SC2150 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 Camaro RS, RX supercharged Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 6,063	The knock sensors are quick enough to pull timing to avoid damage, but the reduced fuel economy that will result negates any savings from useing a lower octane. The power loss could be 20-25hp or more depending on how close the factory tune is. These cars have a 11:1 compression ratio....premium is a must! Bottom line is, why? We have a customer that spent the $$ for a new Z06...and he won't pay the extra for premium. Crazy!

01-03-2010, 09:37 PM	#12
rodimus prime Account Suspended Drives: Cargo van. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Metal Metal Land Posts: 1,247	Im going to run 87 all winter. It doesnt hurt anything. Your car will just switch to the low octane table. But expect it to be slower. No damage will occur, thats just stupid.